As Britons ready themselves for their summer holidays a study out today has shown that a large number (39 per cent) of us are ‘embarrassed’ that we can’t speak the local language on holiday. Women (42 per cent) are slightly more likely than men (37 per cent) to wish to branch out from just using English. 18-24 year-olds (43 per cent) and 25-34 year-olds (45 per cent) are more likely to feel embarrassed about not speaking the local language than any other group.

The online survey of more than 2,200 members of the Great British public carried out by YouGov and Softwareload.co.uk, Deutsche Telekom’s online download portal for software applications, also found that younger demographics (18-24 year-olds - 27 per cent, 25-34 year-olds - 24 per cent) are more likely to find translation software on their mobile phone useful than any other age group. Currently, although 31 per cent of those surveyed are aware that travel apps and dictionaries are available on mobile devices, only six per cent of Brits regularly use them.

Softwareload’s survey also found that 13 per cent of Britons take their laptops on holiday with them whenever possible. Not only are men (16 per cent) more likely to take their laptop away on holiday than women (10 per cent) but they are also twice as likely to work while on vacation when they take their laptop with them, with nine per cent of men confessing to working on vacation compared to just four per cent of women.

Despite this, only eight per cent of Brits think taking their laptop on holiday could cause divisions with their partner or family. But technology hasn’t completely taken over; only five per cent of Britons say that while on holiday they would choose using recreational software on their laptop – such as educational software – over reading a good book.

“While holiday is often a time to leave work behind and maybe even switch off the mobile, technology can enhance our holiday time with useful travel guides, language learning and translation apps available for laptops and mobiles,” said Dirk Lebzien, Head of Softwareload. “The holiday checklist used to include sunscreen, towels and travel books, but now the laptop, smart phone and travel apps are also becoming standard features.”